1969 Camaro RS - From Ordinary To Legendary

With just 29,533 miles on its odometer, and having never been restored, this Azure Turquoise, 327-powered ’69 Camaro RS has to be one of the most pristine and original ’69 Camaro sport coupes in existence.

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Now owned by muscle car collector Charles Lillard of Woodland, California, it was originally purchased by Edward R. Hawkins of La Mirada, California. He bought the Camaro on December 12, 1968, from Don Steve’s Chevrolet of La Habra (which a few years later would become drag racer John Force’s first corporate sponsor when Force was driving GM-bodied floppers). The RS stickered at $3,889.20 and was just one step up from a basic Camaro sport coupe.

3/9With just 29,533 miles on the odometer, Charles Lillard's '69 Camaro RS has been certified as a Vintage Legend by the American Camaro Association's Board of Directors of Vintage Certification.

The base V-8 engine available in the Camaro, as listed in the 1969 Chevrolet Dealer’s Book, was a code FL 327ci Turbo-Fire V-8 engine. With 8.75:1 compression and Rochester two-barrel carburetion, the engine was rated at 210 hp. That year the 327 two-barrel V-8 could be had with either the M35 Powerglide two-speed automatic transmission or the M40 Turbo Hydramatic three-speed automatic, which this particular car has.

4/9Powering this Camaro is an early-production, 327ci Turbo-Fire small-block V-8. With 8.75 compression and a Rochester two-barrel carburetor, it was rated at 210 hp. Later in the model year the 307 became the Camaro's base V-8.

Because this Camaro was ordered with the Z22 Rally Sport option, is has the ’69-only see-through headlight doors, which frame the Rally Sport grille and RS emblem. It should also be noted that the code 55-55 monotone Azure Turquoise color was specifically ordered by Mr. Hawkins to commemorate his 55th birthday.

In this day and age, when a once-ordinary car can become legendary, this RS has become quite collectible and has changed hands at least eight times in the past four decades.

5/9The simulated woodgrain accents that were part of the RPO Z23 equipment group dress up an otherwise basic Camaro interior. Z23 interior options also included bright pedal trim and accents on the instrument panel.

In June 2008, collector Scott Seebold commissioned Steve Shauger and Bret Merrimen, both from the American Camaro Association’s Board of Directors of Vintage Certification, to inspect and certify the RS. The ACA’s judging process for these cars is nothing short of intense, yet remains totally objective and is intended to promote the preservation of first- and second-generation Camaros. Five specific areas were examined: the engine compartment, exterior body, interior body, underbody, and trunk. This Camaro was awarded 2,577.72 points out of a possible 2,819.78 in the Vintage Legend division, which covers first- and second-generation Camaros that are 80 to 90 percent unrestored.

Certain blemishes, like the surface rust on the hood release, flaking paint on the valve covers, and scratches on the wheels, certainly affected the overall points. But they also underscored the originality of this vehicle and should be left as-is, to maintain its time-machine nature.